Power Tool Value Checker — DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita & More

DeWalt 20V MAX is the most cross-shopped cordless ecosystem in the US, which makes its resale market the deepest of any brand. The platform launched in 2011 and has held battery compatibility throughout — a current XR battery still powers a 12-year-old DeWalt drill, so even older tools function as complete systems. That continuity drives steadier resale prices than newer ecosystems where battery generations are incompatible.

Within DeWalt's lineup, the brushless XR series (DCD777, DCF787, DCS570, DCS387, DCF887) holds 50-65% of MSRP after 2-3 years of normal use. Brushed equivalents (older DC-prefixed tools) sell for 30-40% less. The brushless tag in the table above identifies which is which — searchers explicitly filter for brushless on used listings, so the price gap is real.

FLEXVOLT (60V MAX) tools run on the same platform via stepped-down 20V kits. FLEXVOLT corded-equivalents (DCS577 worm-drive saw, DCS781 12" miter saw, DCS7485 table saw) command premium resale because they replace gas-powered jobsite tools — the secondary market reflects that with prices 30-50% above their 20V MAX equivalents.

What hurts DeWalt resale: dropped clutches on 2018-2020 DCF887 impact drivers, chuck failures on hammer drills used without side handles, and over-tightened belt clips that crack the housing. Check the chuck for runout (visible wobble at slow speed) and inspect the belt-clip mount before buying used.

Milwaukee M18 FUEL commands the highest resale premiums of any major cordless brand — frequently 65-75% of MSRP even at 3-4 years. The reason is the brand's commercial-trade reputation: M18 FUEL tools are designed for daily use by HVAC techs, electricians, plumbers, and contractors who'll buy a used FUEL drill over a new homeowner-tier drill from another brand. Demand stays steady because the pro trades buy on capability, not novelty.

Non-FUEL M18 (the basic compact line — 2606, 2641, the older 2630 saws) is a separate market that sells 30-40% below FUEL equivalents because pros skip it. The FUEL vs non-FUEL distinction is the single biggest factor in M18 resale value. Verify the FUEL tag in the model name and on the tool casing before pricing.

M18 batteries themselves are a profit center on resale. The 12.0Ah HD pack is worth $90-130 used because it powers FLEXVOLT-class tools (rotary hammers, 12" miter saws, 9" grinders) that won't run on smaller packs. Selling these batteries individually is sometimes more profitable than bundling them into a kit — buyers replacing dead OEM packs hunt for genuine batteries specifically.

M12 is Milwaukee's compact 12V platform — steadier resale than M18 but lower absolute prices. M12 FUEL impact driver (2462) sells in the $80-110 bare range vs M18 FUEL's $120-160. Electrical work, cabinetry, and tight-space trades favor M12. What hurts Milwaukee resale: bricked batteries from the 2019 firmware update that affected some 5.0Ah XC HD packs (visible on the bottom-of-battery readout) and counterfeit M18 batteries flooding Amazon. Reseller credibility on Milwaukee depends on proof of authentic charging cycles.

Makita is the quiet performer of cordless. Smaller US market share than DeWalt or Milwaukee, but the LXT platform has the longest production run of any 18V Li-ion system (launched 2005). Current LXT tools still work with batteries from 10-15 years ago — broader cross-generation compatibility than any competing system. That continuity is the foundation of LXT's steady resale market.

XPH07 brushless hammer drill and XDT13 brushless impact driver are the LXT bread-and-butter. They've been in production for 6+ years with minimal revisions, so used market prices have settled into a tight $80-110 range for bare tools — predictable enough that resellers can quote prices without waiting for sold comps.

Makita 40V XGT (the next-gen platform) is NOT cross-compatible with 18V LXT, despite shared chargers. That'll hurt 18V LXT resale gradually over the next 3-5 years as Makita pushes XGT, but the 18V LXT installed base is still the larger one — there's no urgency on the seller side yet.

Corded Makita tools (5007F circular saw, JV0600K jigsaw, 9558PB grinder) have a niche but loyal used market. Generations of carpenters learned on these — they sell to apprentices and side-hustle finishers, often within $10-20 of new prices. What hurts Makita resale: counterfeit batteries are very common (BL1850B clones flood Amazon and eBay). Check the holographic Makita Genuine sticker plus the battery's stamped manufacturing date code — counterfeits get the sticker right but the date code wrong.

This is the value-tier group. None of these brands command DeWalt/Milwaukee/Makita premiums, but each has a specific resale dynamic worth understanding.

Ridgid's secret weapon is the Lifetime Service Agreement (LSA). If the original owner registered the tool within 90 days of purchase at Home Depot, repairs (including batteries) are covered free for life. LSA-registered tools sell for $30-50 above their unregistered equivalents because the next owner inherits the warranty — verifiable through Home Depot's account history. Always ask for the LSA registration confirmation when buying used Ridgid; without it, you're buying a standard tool at a non-Ridgid price.

Ryobi One+ is the volume tier. Fewer professionals use it, but homeowners and DIYers create steady secondary-market demand. Combo kits (P1819, P884, the older P883) sell faster than bare tools because Ryobi buyers tend to start fresh rather than supplement existing collections — kit-to-bare-tool price ratios are less favorable than DeWalt or Milwaukee. The One+ platform also covers 250+ tools across lawn, garage, and shop categories — collectors buying out estate sales sometimes pay 1.5x sold-comp prices for a full system bundled together.

Bosch's cordless line never gained traction in the US, so used Bosch 18V is a slow market with limited buyers. The strength is corded — the 1617EVS fixed-base router and 1591EVSK jigsaw are woodworking-shop staples with decades-deep used markets. SDS-MAX rotary hammers (11264EVS, RH540M) sell to contractors specifically and command $200-400 used.

The vintage hand tool market is where craft-quality and age intersect. Resale here doesn't depreciate — well-made pre-WW2 tools generally appreciate slowly as supply contracts and woodworking hobbyists discover them. A Stanley Bailey No. 4 bought for $80 in 2015 sells for $120-150 in 2026.

Stanley plane Type matters more than visible condition. The 1910-1918 Type 11 with a low knob and "STANLEY" arched logo is the woodworker favorite — a Type 11 in well-used-but-flat-sole condition outsells a like-new Type 19 (1948-1961) every time. Identify Type with the Patrick Leach Type Study (free PDF, search "Patrick Leach Stanley Type Study"). Tells the year from the lateral adjuster shape, frog design, and tote/knob style.

Disston saws use medallion design as the primary dating tool. The 1928 Disston D-8 medallion (eagle facing right, "Disston" arched above) marks the "good production years" cutoff for many collectors — saws made before this command 1.5-2x prices of post-1928 examples. Etch on the saw plate (the maker's logo + saw model number stamped near the heel) doubles value if still readable.

Millers Falls hand drills (No. 2 "eggbeater" especially), Stanley breast drills, vintage spokeshaves, and Disston back saws (Tenons specifically) all have active collector communities. eBay sold-comp data is reliable here — these tools have been bought and sold for decades, so prices are well-anchored.

What hurts vintage hand tool resale: replaced or replated parts, repainted bodies, refinished handles. Originality is everything in this market — even surface rust is preferred over fresh paint. A Stanley No. 4 with original japanning (the black baked-enamel finish on cast iron) is worth 2x a same-Type plane that's been bead-blasted and repainted.